
Jimmy Kimmel is back on our screens after a brief hiatus from his late-night show, Jimmy Kimmel Live! The show took an unexpected break on September 17 following Kimmel's comments regarding the right-wing reaction to Charlie Kirk's tragic death. The incident stirred significant attention, with Kimmel receiving a flood of support from colleagues like Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon, as well as stars like Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, and Robert De Niro.
During this tumultuous time, Kimmel has leaned on his close-knit circle, especially his wife, Molly McNearney. Molly, who has been part of Kimmel's journey since 2004, is not just his wife but also the executive producer and co-head writer for Jimmy Kimmel Live! The couple, who tied the knot in 2013, share two children, Jane and Billy.
Molly McNearney is a name that resonates with excellence in writing. Her impressive resume includes contributions to The Oscars and Freeform's Chrissy & Dave Dine Out, in addition to her extensive work on Jimmy Kimmel Live! "I absolutely love my job," Molly shared with ScriptMag. "I love late-night television. I think there's such a magic to waking up as a writer with a blank page – I will say magical and daunting – to wake up with an empty page and write some thoughts down."
“I get to put it somewhere and hopefully make a dent in or influence or make someone laugh in some dark times, or maybe even change someone's opinion politically, which I know is impossible,” she expressed, highlighting how writing serves as an outlet for her emotions.
Molly has been an outspoken advocate for gun control and women's reproductive rights, using her platform to voice her opinions and challenge political figures like Donald Trump.
Molly and Jimmy's initial meeting in 2004 wasn't the romantic encounter one might imagine. "When I first met him, he insulted me," Molly recounted to Glamour. Despite this rocky start, the pair gradually developed a friendship which blossomed into romance in 2010 after Kimmel's split from Sarah Silverman.
Their shared love for writing and humor eventually brought them together. "We really liked each other as friends, and then it just kind of turned," Molly said. "He cooked for me, and that was it. It sealed the deal."
Navigating a professional and personal relationship in the same workplace can be tricky, but Molly and Jimmy seem to have mastered it. Initially, Molly was hesitant to reveal their relationship to coworkers, fearing it might disrupt the dynamic, especially as the only female writer at the time. "At home, it's a different relationship. At 10 a.m., he's my boss, not my husband," she joked.
When they're not busy with work, the couple enjoys low-key date nights at home, preferring the comfort of their couch and the latest Netflix series over glitzy outings. "Our date nights are like lying in bed watching TV. We don't like to go out," Jimmy confessed to People.
Together, Molly and Jimmy have crafted a life filled with love, laughter, and a shared passion for television and writing.